T.J. Nichols

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #157 prospect in 2023 draft
  School: Arizona Source: 4YR
  
  Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.1
  BA Grade:45/Extreme
  Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 40.
  
  Nichols ranked as the No. 111 prospect in the 2020 class as a converted shortstop who showed a ton of natural arm strength. He made it to campus at Arizona, where he has continued to develop into a power righthander and consistently sits in the upper 90s. Listed at 6-foot-5, 189 pounds, Nichols has exceptional pure stuff and arm talent but has never translated that into great success with Arizona. He’s posted an ERA of 4.77 or higher in each season and in 2023 as a split starter and reliever he posted an 8.27 ERA over 57.2 innings, with an 18.7% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate. Nichols averages 95-96 mph on his fastball and has been up to 99, but the pitch has always played down thanks to average life and below-average command. Opposing batters hit .354/.493/.628 against the pitch this spring, but he still threw it almost 60% of the time. He throws a mid-80s slider as his go-to secondary offering, and the pitch has solid bite and late turn at times. He’s mixed in a mid-80s changeup as well, but used the pitch just 6% of the time in 2023. He’s likely a reliever given his two-pitch mix and control, but there’s a chance he can find more success with a pro team that can get a bit more wiggle on his fastball or help him throw strikes more consistently.
• Ranked #111 prospect in 2020 draft
  A converted shortstop, Nichols impressed scouts last summer at the 2019 Area Code Games by showing one of the bigger fastballs of the event. He threw twice during the week and touched 96 on both occasions, sitting in the 92-95 mph range in his shorter outings. He got hit around more than you would expect with that sort of velocity and his strikes were scattered. Nichols showed an inconsistent slider in the 78-81 mph range but flashed solid bite. Nichols has plenty of refining to do, but he has impressive arm strength and a lanky, 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame that can add significantly more weight. Many scouts believe he’ll add 20-30 pounds with a chance to throw 100 mph. He has present reliever risk because of his delivery and strike-throwing concerns, but he's an athletic pitcher and could make strides in the command department as he develops. An Arizona commit, Nichols is talented enough to potentially fit into a two-way role if he makes it to campus, though his pro future is certainly on the mound.